The Aboriginal Housing Company has
responded to Minister Frank Sartor’s open letter in the recent RWA Update. The
abridged reply on page 7 of the September 7 2005 issue of the Sydney Central
Courier will not get the same audience as the Minister’s front page letter
distributed to every home in Redfern Waterloo but it at least puts the AHC’s
reply on the public record and many will see it. In the interest of ensuring
that as many people as possible are aware of the AHC’s reply we have put out
this Update and reproduced the reply at the foot of this
update.

Telephone Polling – Who is asking
questions about the Block and Redfern Oval?

Last evening we received a report
that a Redfern Waterloo resident had received a call from a telephone polling
company asking for their opinion on a number of questions about The Block (such
as should 62 houses be built there?) and also asking if Souths should be allowed
to own Redfern Oval? The respondent thought that the call was made on behalf of
the RWA but Robert Domm the RWA CEO
has this morning advised that: “The RWA has neither commissioned any polling nor
undertaken any itself.”

So if the questions are not being
asked on behalf of the RWA who are they being asked on behalf of? If you have
had a call and can provide any information about the polling company making the
calls, who they say they are making the calls for, what information they are
providing respondents and what questions are being asked, please let us know.

Given that the phone polling follows
close on the heels of the distribution of the RWA’s Update which put their
position on these two issues one would expect that like push polling, the
respondent’s views will be influenced by the quality of the information
available to them. Poll results from such research would probably be considered
tainted should they be rolled out to support the RWA’s position on either The
Block or the oval further down the track.

New Police LAC Commander Catherine
Burn Interview

The September 7 2005 issue of the
Sydney Central Courier also carried an article about Catherine Burn’s
appointment to Redfern which we mentioned last week. Of particular interest in
the article was that Superintendent Burn worked as the Police Liaison Officer to
last year’s Social Issues Inquiry into issues relating to Redfern Waterloo. This
experience has hopefully provided her with a good understanding of some of the
issues facing Redfern Waterloo and of some of the Inquiry’s concerns on what
needs to happen to address some of the issues raised. The article can be seen at
http://www.redwatch.org.au/media/050907sccc
.

The Tony Mundine Gym in Redfern
produces world-class boxers. Fighters of all backgrounds train there, and
according to the Federal Government, that's the problem. Mick Mundine, CEO of the gym, said
"The reasons why funding from the Federal Government stopped is because a lot of
different nationalities train here, and not enough Aboriginals. They said, the
gym isn't doing the thing
it's supposed to be doing - but we
should all be able to train here together".

To save the Mundine's Gym a
refurbishment festival is taking place on September 24th. One thousand people
are expected to attend, including a number of high profile athletes. Anthony
Mundine, a former world champion, said, "I'll do everything in my power to make sure it
doesn't close". He is not alone.
Already sponsors have come out in support of the gym, either through
contributing to the $60,000 target
for fundraising or by providing materials for the
renovations.

Alex Tui, who manages the gym,
believes the famous Redfern landmark will survive because it has the support of
local residents and businesses. "People respect the gym. It's almost like a church in the community". In the
gym, Tui said, you'll not only find
people who aspire to be world champions but you'll also see those who are fighting to get their
lives back on track.

Boxers who train at
Mundine's Gym fear its closure will
negatively affect youth from South Sydney.
Anthony Mundine said, "The Gym has provided a lot
for the youngsters around the area. It will be the cornerstone
for future champions. A sweaty gym like this is where real champions want to
train".

Suat Sarimsakliosu, a boxer with a
big future in the sport, agreed. "You've got some of the best trainers around and a lot of
professional boxers here. If they can do it, you can do
it".

The Gym Rescue festival is being
organized by the Elouera – Tony Mundine Gym, the Aboriginal Housing Company and
Hillsong Emerge. More information and downloadable sponsorship package can be
found at www.redferngym.org

Lord Mayor’s Community
Forums

If you are unable to make the 6pm
Redfern, Waterloo, Darlington Community Forum on
Thursday 15th September at Redfern Town
Hall there are a couple of other alternatives
available. The Forum for Centennial and Moore Parks
will also cater to East Redfern at 6pm at
SCEGGS, Forbes Street Darlinghurst on Thursday 22 September. On the western side
the Newtown, Darlington, Chippendale, Camperdown
Community Forum will be held at 6pm on Monday 26 September at the Wentworth Building, level 4, University Union, City Road,
University of
Sydney. For further
information contact Julie Grimson, City of Sydney’s Community Relations Manager on 9265
9086.

Open letter from Michael Mundine to
Frank Sartor Minister for Redfern Waterloo

Minister Frank
Sartor,

What I find most disturbing in your
open letter to me in the Redfern Waterloo Authority August 2005 newsletter, is
that you have grossly misrepresented the Pemulwuy Project and spread fear that
the Block could become a ghetto again. The commercial developments that you have
suggested should be on the Block are features already present in our master
plan.

Facts about the Pemulwuy
Project:

Originally there were
over 102 homes owned by the AHC (now demolished) on and around the Block. The
Pemulwuy Project will replace only 62.

The suggestion that 19
houses is a sustainable number for the Block is wrong. There are 19 houses on
the Block now and this was not enough to stop last year's riot.

Reducing the number of
houses proposed by the Pemulwuy Project will seriously compromise the
community's ability to respond to
crime and anti-social behaviour. The area requires a critical mass of people to
ensure it remains safe.

The AHC has won an
international award for crime prevention and community safety strategies.

The Pemulwuy Project is
driven by an award winning Social Plan and is not an architectural
response.

The Pemulwuy Project is
not about high-dependency housing. Two thirds of the proposed housing will be
available for homeownership and only as few as 20 homes will be available for
low income rental.

The Pemulwuy Project
includes an Indigenous business college, a retail/office centre, a student
hostel, a museum, a culture centre, Aboriginal markets and a fitness
centre.

The AHC has engaged
independent professional advisors to oversee the Pemulwuy' Project, chaired by the Hon Tom Uren,
AO.

The AHC has worked in
partnership with the NSW Premier's
department for over three
years.

The AHC has never asked
for funding from the NSDW Government
for the Pemulwuy Project, and is exploring a range of other
funding options.

I can say with a high degree of
confidence that the Block will never become a ghetto again. The AHC, with crime
prevention experts and urban planners, has developed strategies to avoid a high
dependency situation from re-occurring.

The Pemulwuy Project promises great
benefits:

The Block is a modern
sacred site for Aboriginal people, its renewal will result in greater cultural
pride and self respect.

Safer
environment for children in a low
crime, drug-free neighbourhood.

Greater opportunities
for Aboriginal education and employment.

Opportunities for
Aboriginal enterprise by making Redfern a cultural tourism
precinct.

Unprecedented
affordable home ownership in the inner-city for Aboriginal
families.

Practical
reconciliation not welfare handouts.

Self-determination in
action.

Your letter goes on to urge me to
ignore "consultants and nay-sayers. As CEO it is my responsibility to seek
independent advice from a range of sources. The Board of the Aboriginal Housing
Company and the members of the organisation have debated all the options. You
may not like the decision but the AHC members unanimously chose to reject your
amendments to the Project, on the grounds that the changes would seriously
compromise the future social sustainability of the community. Despite your
attempts to blame me for delays, I will continue to fight for the rights of my people to have a future in
Redfern.

The vision for the Block is already
there, the hard work has already been done, all you have to do now Minister is
open your heart and mind to the wonderful future we can achieve for
Redfern.

Regards.

Michael Mundine Snr

Chief Executive Officer
Aboriginal Housing Company,

Editor's note: This is an abridged version of the original
letter sent for publication.
(Page 7 September 7 2005 issue of the
Sydney Central Courier)